How Gandhi replaced Britain's monarchs in offices

October 2, 2012

Gandhi

Mumbai, October 2: For nearly two years after India became independent, pictures of the king and queen of Britain continued to adorn government offices and departments.

It was only from June 2, 1949 that the government of then Bombay state ordered all offices to replace the photographs of British colonial rulers with those of Mahatma Gandhi, who by then had been assassinated.

In keeping with the principles of austerity practiced by the Mahatma, old frames from the British photos were used to mount pictures of the Father of the Nation, according to archival material released by Raj Bhavan here Monday, the eve of Gandhi Jayanti.

"The photographs of their majesties ... should be carried to a remote place where the frame and glasses should be removed.

The frames and glasses which remain intact and neat and tidy should be used for framing Mahatma Gandhi's photographs," says the government resolution issued by the Political and Services Department of the government of Bombay.

The government record (GR) copies, issued by then chief secretary M.D. Bhat, were marked to the governor, premier of Bombay, the High Court, divisional commissioners, heads of government departments, ministers, collectors and chief administrators of Kolhapur and Sangli and special commissioner of Baroda.

"It is apparent from the GR and circular that the government advocated austerity while asking government departments to re-use the old photo frames in tune with the ideology of the new entrant to the photo frame, Mahatma Gandhi," a Raj Bhavan official said.

The resolution further said: "The actual material on which the photographs or portraits of the king and queen are photographed or portrayed should be stored in a safe place where there is no inflammable material nearby.

The question as to what should be done with the photographs without frames will be decided after three years."

The GR also specified the kinds of pictures the government had approved for use in various offices.

It had approved pictures received from three agencies - Rex Photo Studio, Bombay, bust size 16 inches by 22 inches; Vanguard Studio, Bombay, size 14 inches by 17 inches; Dandi Kuch upright position, and Associated Photo Service, Delhi, bust size with folded hands size 10 inches by 12 inches.

The interesting aspect was that the GR also specified which government office should use which particular photograph of Mahatma Gandhi.

Later, in another GR issued on Oct 14, 1949, the prices for the three types of pictures were also communicated.

The first one, without frame, was fixed at Rs.30, the second one at Rs.18 and the third at Rs.8 per copy.

Today, no government office in the country is complete without a photograph of Mahatma Gandhi, displayed in a prominent location in its premises.


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News Network
February 28,2020

New Delhi, Feb 28: The months of March, April and May are "likely to be warmer than normal" over northwest, west, central and parts of south India, the India Meteorological Department said today in its summer forecast.

Above normal heat wave conditions are also likely in the core heat wave (HW) zone during the season (March-May), the weather department said.

The core heat wave zone covers the states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha and Telangana and parts of Maharashtra and coastal Andhra Pradesh.

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Agencies
February 25,2020

Agra, Feb 25: The architectural grandeur of 17th century Taj Mahal and the story of its construction by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan left US President Donald Trump "impressed" during his visit to the famed mausoleum, according to the guide who accompanied him.

Nitin Kumar, an Agra-based guide, said the first word the president said after laying his eyes on the marble marvel was "incredible".

He and First Lady Melania Trump visited on Monday the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, the second stop on his little less than 36-hour-long trip of India, and marvelled at the Mughal-era mausoleum built as a monument of love.

After Dwight David Eisenhower (1959) and Bill Clinton (2000), he became the third US president to visit the architectural icon.

"I told them the story of the Taj Mahal, the construction, and the story behind it. President Trump got very emotional after knowing the story of Shah Jahan and his wife Mumtaz Mahal. How he was kept under house arrest by his own son Aurangzeb, and buried here at Taj, next to Mumtaz's grave, after his death," Kumar told reporters.

The couple was left speechless on the first sight of the monument, and showed interest when they were told about the history and architecture of the dome, and the design details, Kumar said.

"Melania Trump asked about the mud-pack treatment and was amazed when she got to know the details of the process," he said.

One of the most photographed sites in the world, it is always high on the itinerary of head of states visiting India.

The monument was built over a period of nearly 20 years by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife after her death in 1631.

"The Taj Mahal inspires awe, a timeless testament to the rich and diverse beauty of Indian Culture!' Thank You, India," the US President and First Lady jointly wrote in the visitors' book before signing it.

According to Mohammed Zafar, who lives close to Taj Mahal complex, Nitin has been conducting guided tours for many years. "He was selected for this VVIP visit," he said.

"Many people were taking selfies with him, after the end of the visit. So, many media persons interacted with him. He has got some instant fame of sorts," Zafar said.

Authorities at Archaeological Survey of India had "advanced the dates" for mud-pack treatment for the graves of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal at Taj Mahal in view of the US President Trump's visit to Taj, a senior official had earlier said.

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News Network
March 7,2020

New Delhi, Mar 7: Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned emotional on Saturday when a woman beneficiary of his government's generic medicine programme told him that she had seen God in him.

Dehradun-resident Deepa Shah, who suffered paralysis in 2011, was interacting with the prime minister through video-conference on the occasion of Jan Aushadhi Diwas.

"I have not seen god, but I have seen God in you," she said, tears rolling down her eyes.

Modi was visibly emotional as the woman repeated her remark.

She also thanked the Uttarakhand chief minister and others who had helped her all along and said doctors had once told her that she cannot be cured.

"But on hearing your voice I have become better," she told Modi while profusely thanking the prime minister for his efforts to reduce the cost of medicines.

An emotional prime minister paused for a moment before telling her that it was her courage that had won over her disease and that she must carry on with the spirit.

Shah was expressing her plight and how she had suffered due to high cost of medicines after she suffered from paralysis in 2011 and has now started saving Rs 3,500 every month after benefitting from the government's low-cost generic medicines programme.

Soon after Shah rose to express her views, Modi asked her to sit and speak as he said she was uncomfortable while standing.

"You have defeated disease with your own will power. Your courage is your god and that same courage has given you the strength to emerge from such a big crisis. You should carry on this confidence in you," Modi told her.

He said some people still keep spreading rumours about generic medicines, going by their past experience, wondering how can medicines be available so cheap and that there must be something wrong with the medicine.

"But, by seeing you countrymen would gain confidence that there is nothing wrong in generic medicines. These medicines are not at all of inferior quality than any other medicine. These medicines have been certified by the best laboratories. These medicines are made in India and is 'Make in India' and are cheap," the prime minister said.

He said there is demand for generic medicines from India across the world and the government has made it mandatory for doctors to prescribe generic medicines to patients, unless necessary.

Comments

Sameeksha
 - 
Monday, 9 Mar 2020

Wowww so emotional... Lol .really god in you??? Drama king and queen

angry indian
 - 
Sunday, 8 Mar 2020

in 2002 riot we have seen shaitan in you..how come shaitan become GOD...

 

did he put atleat one tear for his mother, did he feel sad when pregnant muslim woman brutally murdered..

this guy is 21st century dajjal..

Suresh SS
 - 
Sunday, 8 Mar 2020

Big Nautanki, Dramebaz

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